Telehealth Mindfulness After Spine Surgery

Pain Interference short-form 8a from the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System scale. Measures interference of pain over the past 7 days. Consists of 8 items with response options from 1 = not at all to 5 = very much. The total score is a T-score based on a population with mean score of 50 and standard deviation of 10. A lower score indicates lower pain interference, or a better outcome.

One item assessing how bothersome pain has been in the past 7 days from 0 = not at all to 4 = extremely. A lower scores indicates lower pain bothersomeness.

1 item assessing back pain intensity on a scale of 0-10 over the past 7 days, described as pain when off medication or medication has worn off. Lower scores indicate less pain, or better outcome.

1 item assessing leg pain intensity on a scale of 0-10 over the past 7 days, described as pain when off medication or medication has worn off. Lower scores indicate less pain, or better outcome.

Anxiety short-form 4a - Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System. 4 items assessing anxiety symptoms in the past 7 days (e.g. "I felt fearful") with response options from 1 = never to 5 = always. The total score is a T-score based on a population with mean score of 50 and standard deviation of 10. Lower scores represent lower anxiety, a better outcome

Physical Function short-form 4a - Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System. 4 items assessing physical function in the past 7 days (e.g. "Are you able to do chores such as vacuuming or yard work?") with response options from 1 = Unable to do to 5 = Without any difficulty. The total score is a T-score based on a population with mean score of 50 and standard deviation of 10. Higher scores represent better physical function, a better outcome

Depression short-form 4a - Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System scale. 4 items assessing depressive symptoms over the past 7 days (e.g. "I felt worthless) with response options from 1 = never to 5 = always. The total score is a T-score based on a population with mean score of 50 and standard deviation of 10. A lower score indicates less depression, a better outcome.

Sleep disturbance short-form 4a - Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System scale. 4 items assessing sleep disturbance over the past 7 days (e.g. "I had difficulty falling asleep) with response options from 1 = not at all to 5 = very much (1 item reverse-scored). The total score is a T-score based on a population with mean score of 50 and standard deviation of 10. A lower score indicates less sleep disturbance, a better outcome.

Assesses impact of pain on level of functioning in 10 areas (e.g. walking, sleep, social life) with 10 items with response options with scores 0 to 5. Total scores are calculated as a percentage, ranging from 0% to 100%. Lower scores indicate a lower level of disability due to pain, a better outcome.

13 items assessing thoughts and feelings when in pain (e.g. "I become afraid that the pain will get worse" with response options ranging from 0 = never to 4 = all the time. Total scores range from 0 to 52 units on the scale. Lower scores indicate lower pain catastrophizing, a better outcome.

10 items assessing confidence in ability to do certain things despite pain (e.g. "I can enjoy things, despite the pain" with response options 0 = not at all to 6 = completely. Total scores range from 0 to 60 units on the scale. Higher scores indicate greater pain self-efficacy, a better outcome.

4 items assessing perceived level of stress in the past month (e.g. "In the last month, how often have you felt that you were unable to control the important things in your life?"), with response options ranging from 0 = never to 4 = very often (2 items reverse-scored). Total scores range from 0 to 16 units on the scale. Lower scores indicate lower perceived stress, a better outcome.

13 items assessing fear of movement (e.g. "I'm afraid that I might injure myself if I exercise" with response options ranging from 1 = strongly disagree to 4 = strongly agree. Total scores range from 13 to 52 units on the scale. Lower scores indicate lower levels of kinesiophobia, a better outcome.

15 items assessing 5 facets of mindfulness, including observing, describing, acting with awareness, non-judging of inner experience, and non-reactivity to inner experience. Response options range from 1 = never to 5 = always (7 items reverse scored). Total scores are an average of the sum of all items, ranging from 1 to 5 units on the scale. Higher scores indicate higher levels of mindfulness, a better outcome.

Participants were asked in one item "Are you currently taking an opioid medication?" Response options included "Yes" or "No." A response of Yes counted as 1 and No counted as 0 when calculating total frequency of participants reporting current opioid use.

The duration of time participants tolerated an inflated blood pressure cuff: Using an ischemic task involving squeezing a dynamometer followed by inflated blood pressure cuff on arm, the time in seconds at which the participant indicated they could no longer tolerate the stimulus (inflated blood pressure cuff). Scores could range from 0 seconds to 300 seconds, as the task was discontinued at 300 seconds if reached prior to the participant indicating to stop the task.

Duration at which participants indicate a stimulus is experienced as painful: Using an ischemic task involving squeezing a dynamometer followed by inflated blood pressure cuff on arm, the point in seconds at which the stimulus (inflated blood pressure cuff) is first reported by the participant as painful. Scores could range from 0 seconds to 300 seconds, as the task was discontinued at 300 seconds if participants did not yet indicate that the stimulus was painful.

Using a punctate stimuli (von frey hairs of 100g and 180g of force to the finger), the difference between reported pain intensity during a single prick and the reported highest pain intensity during repeated brief pricks at a constant intensity. Pain intensity was measured on a scale of 0 to 100. The difference score was calculated by subtracting the pain intensity with single prick from the pain intensity with repeated pricks and could range from 0 to 100 units of difference on the pain intensity scale. Lower values are a more favorable outcome.